Half Orc - Where from here?

[Mu]

I've been lurking here for a while, and now that I'm relatively sure you won't eat me alive

*chews*
hmmm, yummy StormyQ
*crunch*

err, where was I...?

- What struck me first is that the rough stone wall looks much more detailed than the character.

- Also the wooden pole is too simplistic against such a rendition of a stone wall.

If resolution lets you do it, add the same amount of detail to the character. Also, the color palette somewhat helps to make the character rather unearthly. I know it's fantasy, but fantasy which makes the characters look like they are actually real is much more convincing to me.

Keep in mind that this is only me and I just took a peek at somethiing you spent hours on so countercheck everything I say with your own experience.

Keep going:thumbsup:

[StormyQ]

*chews*
hmmm, yummy StormyQ
*crunch*

Hope i don't get stuck inyour teeth :)

Thanks for the Input. The detail on the wall is so high because "cheated" by texturizing a photo.

Also, the color palette somewhat helps to make the character rather unearthly.

Are you saying that his skin is too green or that he shouldn't be green at all?

[Mu]

Hope i don't get stuck inyour teeth :)

*burp*
I'm fine, thanks

The detail on the wall is so high because "cheated" by texturizing a photo.

Well, I feared that much. You set yourself a fine task, painting up against a photo source!
Why not abandon that background (if you have separate layers you are working on, that is) and come up with a background that does not compete with the main subject for the viewer's attention so much?

Are you saying that his skin is too green or that he shouldn't be green at all?

Hmmm, don't know. It depends much on what you choose to be the setting. But keeping saturation at bay is a good idea most of the time. High Saturation of any color can be achieved by strong lighting.

Maybe it is the light: at the moment you imply a strong spotlight from above/left. But then there should be much darker shadows on the chest and belly. Neck, triceps of his left arm and hand on his right arm should be saturated and light.

- Work on your lighting
- find another background

[bupaje]

I'm a noob and a student so take whatever I say with a grain of salt .... something about the lgihting and/or color is messing me up a little. It feels like the area by the axe head comes forward. It may be that the axe, wall and helmet have about the same value (light) making it seem they are at about the same level/depth and somewhat flattens portions of the image and even gives that weird effect I mention of the left back side of the composition coming forward.

In fact, same with the furlined boots, both are equally bright, detailed and saturated even though one is further back, which again makes it seem as if they are at the same depth visually.

The shadows of the axehead and orc are confusing and suggest different lighting directions. For example for the axe to have that cast shadow from the upper left and out towards the viewer, casting a sharp shadow on the wall but the orcs shadow is straight down as if the light was overhead, just slightly in front of the orc and it is a softer shadow.

Not sure if you are interested or what your level of experience is - but maybe you can look at the value studies I had to do for school here ...

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?p=2919822#post2919822

you can just make a scan of your image again, then reduce it and print off a few small sized copies and you can use charcoal, graphite, paint whatever to quickly test lighting ideas.

Other than that I like the orc a lot. :)

[StormyQ]

This is my first real try at a digital painting, rather that just comic style coloring. I'm a nooB and it shows. I want to thank you guys I wasn't sure what to do next and now i've got a direction. I'll definatly redo the background, cause it's overpowering my orc, and I'll work on the lighting... and make it look like i actually picked a light source. A good chunk of my lighting woes is that i'm working completely out of my head. That's why fixing the axe is going to be tricky.

Seriously Thanks a bunch you guys. Once I put some more work into this i'll post an update to see what yall think.

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